Disability Sport Forum
Originally facilitated by Amber Valley Borough Council Sports Development, Amber Valley Disability Sport and Leisure Development Group have been working for the last 18 months to increase Sporting and Leisure opportunities in the Borough. The main aims of the group are to;
1. To identify and communicate existing opportunities to users.
2. To identify opportunities that users would like to be involved in but which currently don’t exist and then work with partners to try and establish these.
3. To share knowledge of good practice amongst group members
4. To provide a local link to regional and national bodies
5. To help increase disability awareness through communication and coaching courses.
The group are already involved in projects with partners to increase opportunities in the Borough including
- free training for a trial period to an inclusive Gym at Ripley Leisure Centre, a project to provide access to sports club activities.
- A Governing Body linked trial to develop disabled athletics opportunities,
- the development of disabled access to a trampoline club,
- a project to provide changing tables and hoists for swimmers at Leisure Centres
- and a project to develop a database of all disabled people in Amber valley who are keen on sport and leisure opportunities to facilitate direct consultation and promotion.
Partners in the group are Amber Valley Borough Council Sports Development, Amber Valley Access, Amber Valley Social Services, Amber Valley Children’s Partnership, DCC Early Learning, Belper Swimming Club, DCIL, Umbrella, Amber Valley Leisure, Amber Valley Sport and Leisure, Derbyshire and Peak Park Sport and Recreation Forum and English Federation for Disability Sport.
Chairperson of the group Mick Potter said; “One of the groups priorities is to establish a database of disabled people interested in taking part in sport and leisure activities in Amber Valley. This would allow us to consult them in identifying the type of activity they would like to do and to be able to contact them directly with information on new and existing opportunities. We are currently working closely with Social Services and users in this regard”.